VC Chapter 39-Casualties of War

Sector 1600

Planet 1601

January 26, 2052

“Push forward.” Yale relayed the order to the VEGA ships as his Apocrypha led the charge.

“Parks and Yale, glad you folks got my message.” Vorzer transmitted as he flew his ship in retreat.

“Funny how it's me saving you now.” Parks giggled she watched her thermal beam weapons charge up.

“Just get the NB guys enough time to port out.” Vorzer briefed.

The swarm of VEGA ships collided with the SIN and MoB fleets and immediately opened fire. The Exodus cruisers were basically used as cannon fodder to protect the Rancors loaded with thermal beams. The weapons on the Rancors were maximized effectively as both sides fired continuously.

“Commander Parks. We have a distress beacon on an escape pod two kilometres starboard side.” an officer reported.

Parks took out the macrobinoculars from her command chair and looked right at the cluster of debris. In the cluster of broken ship parts and base components was a small pod with a weak flashing light.

“MYRM painted on the pod. Is that friendly?” Parks read the words out.

“Yes commander. They are here to defend NB.” Vorzer replied as he watched Wicker's frigate carrying Tarbuck into a NB base about to relocate out.

“Ok, I'll go pick that pod up.” Parks replied as she steered her ship away from battle towards the escape pod drifting in space.

Parks paused for a moment to scan the battlefield as her ship latched onto the escape pod. Time seemed to have slowed down as she watched the darkness of space get lit up by ship weapons and explosions. Shrapnel from the explosions flew in all directions like a distant fireworks display. Bodies got vacuumed out of the ships as the hulls broke apart.

“All NB bases have ported out. Repeat, all bases are safe. Fall back!” Vorzer's voice on the comms seemed to brought Parks back to attention.

“We are being overrun!” Yale cried on the comms as his fleets were smashed wave after wave.

“Come on Yale, warp out.” Vorzer watched as Yale's cruiser was pierced with projectiles.

“No can do Vorzer. My engines are fried! Get out of here while I buy you time. Go!” Yale turned his ship towards the enemy and fired.

“Commander Yale...” Parks rotated her ship to assist Yale.

“No Sarah. You must go. You have made me proud.” Yale smiled on the transmission as his ship tore into pieces.

“Nooo...” Parks watched as her mentor's ship get obliterated.

“Parks! Warp now!” Vorzer replied as the enemy ships neared Parks' Apocrypha.

With great sadness, she looked at the remnants of Yale's ship and put the engines to warp. Space warped around the ship and she was out of the hot zone.

“I'm sorry commander.” an officer gave his condolences knowing that it was Yale who taught her piloting and tactics.

 “Me too. These bastards will pay for this.” Parks rushed out of the bridge overwhelmed with emotions.